Comparing HOn3 flex track

So far, the HOn3 flex track I have is all of Shinohara origin. I notice, however that there is a second manufacturer, Micro Engineering, as well. As it turns out, Shinohara seems to be unavailable for a while. Thus encouraging a change or mix of tracks. How well do the two products (both code 70) mix? And how do they compare with respect to durability? I should add that I use them for temporary layouts. The repeated assembly and taking apart thus puts more strain on the basic construction.

 

Hi Robert,

I don't have any experience with Micro Engineering's Code 70 flextrack, but I've worked a bit with their Code 55 track. I've never worked with any Shinohara track either so I can't make any comparisons, but I can say that the ME flextrack is very nice. It seems pretty durable in spite of it's very fine spike heads, which holds the rail to the ties, very prototypically. It flexes okay but really needs to be laid carefully to get smooth curves. Also, there are no nail holes, or pilot holes to drill out.

Micro Engineering switches (again HOn3, Code 55) are another story. For some reason instead of using plastic ties like their On30 and HO std gauge switches, used laser cut wood which lacks tie plate and spike detail. The rail is glued down and there are pilot holes for spikes around the points and frog. Also they don't have isolated frogs and the throwbar for the points is soldered metal, so it'll have to be replaced if you want to run DCC (as I understand it, I don't do DCC myself).

I'll post some pictures if you'd like, as I happen to have it unpacked at the moment.

-Cody

 

Thanks for this info regarding the tracks. I would think if code 55 is well made, code 70 ought to be as well.

But then, your report on the turnouts/switches would indicate otherwise. That is we should never infer from one type to another being the same.

I would definitely like to see some pictures of those turnouts. I have somewhat similar ones that I bought from Aspenmodel. They are code 70, but also laser cut wood with rail glued on to it as you can see in the attached pictures. The cuts at the frog are mine. And I also opened the space at the ends with a drill for the rail joiners.

 

The ME turnouts are of similar construction, except have a cast frog, which looks okay, but if they're anything like their standard gauge switches, will need to be filed flat to keep rolling stock from bumping as it rolls across. I'll post some pictures for you shortly.

-Cody

BTW: are you planning a layout in HOn3? Colorado?

 

I'm afraid not. No space. But I like to run my trains from time to time anyway. There is another thread where more of this is discussed:
H0n3 tracks - TrainBoard.com

So here, it is just trying to find out whether I could combine ME with Shinohara tracks, and how they compare with respect to their quality.

 

Here's some shots of a ME code 55 switch, this one is a number 6. They're really not bad, I think the majority of my disappointment came from comparing it to a HO standard gauge switch from Micro Engineering, which has isolated frogs and sprung points. Not to mention much, much better detail. I'm kind of confused why they went such different routs with such similar products...

I've built some switches from Fast Tracks in HOn30 and would probably go that route as I like the homemade frogs better than the castings...

-Cody

 

Do those turnouts date from the Rail Craft era while the HO ones date from much later? Certainly being a few generations apart in tooling would make an enormous difference in quality...unless the first generation was tooled by Cliff Grandt, Russ Simpson, or equivalent.

Michael

 

Has anyone heard of Litco turnouts?

http://www.maine2footquarterly.com/turnout.htm

They offer everything from HO to O. Great prices and great turnouts. I had some a while back but got out of the hobby.

 

For turnouts, you can buy those Fast Tracks turnouts ready, soldered:
Cream City Trains

They make H0n3 with code 70 as well as code 55. Friends have bought a few and are satisfied. I like my own scratch build tunouts, fun and cheaper. And I get the turnout I want, every radius.

Wolfgang